Rose on Wheels Page 5

  Rose’s face burned and she glanced around but there was no one else there. She whispered all the same. ‘I did.’

  Tommy grinned. ‘John said the screw had fallen out. Coulda happened to anyone.’ He squinted at the bike. ‘A few scratches, but once he straightens the other bits, she’ll be as good as new.’

  ‘I still have to tell Aunt Alice I stole her bike, though.’

  ‘She seems like a good sort,’ Tommy said. ‘She won’t be too cross with you.’

  Rose kept glancing up at the house windows, worried that Mother would see her outside and be angry again.

  ‘Your ma’s gone out,’ Tommy said. ‘John took the carriage around half an hour ago.’

  ‘Oh.’ Rose let her breath out and relaxed. ‘In that case, I’m going for a walk.’

  ‘Will yer be up for a game of cricket later?’

  ‘I’d better not. See you tomorrow, maybe.’ Rose set off through the garden, stopping to smell the beds of blooming spring flowers. The sun felt warm and comforting on her face, and she knew she should be wearing a hat and using her parasol, but she wasn’t going to be out for long.

  As she passed the house, Aunt Alice waved and came out to join her.

  Rose said, ‘I’m so glad you’re still here! Please say you’re not leaving.’

  Aunt Alice smiled wanly, her face tired. ‘I’m still thinking about it. Your father is insisting I stay, but your mother …’

  Rose sat down on the lawn. ‘I knew it. Mother has turned you away from us.’

  ‘Not at all!’ Aunt Alice said. She took Rose’s arm and drew her up. ‘I would never let your mother stop me from doing what I wanted. But I’ve been offered that teaching position in Adelaide. It’s a very good one, and I’m still thinking of moving there.’

  ‘But… that’s miles and miles away!’ Disappointment welled up inside Rose. In her heart, she’d been counting on Aunt Alice to stay – she was the one bright light in her life.

  ‘I haven’t decided yet,’ Aunt Alice said. She touched the butterfly brooch on her collar. ‘Look what arrived in the post this morning. With Martha’s comb and a note of apology.’

  ‘Oh! From Miss Parson?’

  Aunt Alice nodded. Thank goodness we didn’t report her, Rose thought happily. ‘Now tell me, Rose,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘What on earth happened yesterday?’

  ‘Well, er …’ Rose tried to avoid her aunt’s eyes. ‘I, er, have to confess. I borrowed your bicycle. I’m really sorry, truly I am.’

  ‘No harm done,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘Or … was there?’

  ‘John said it could’ve happened to anyone, the screw in the brake coming loose.’

  Aunt Alice made a strange noise and when Rose looked up, she found her aunt was trying hard not to laugh. A few splutters escaped before Aunt Alice managed to say, ‘I’m sorry, Rose, it sounds like something went wrong. I hope you weren’t hurt.’

  ‘No, but I did fall in the river and get very wet.’

  At that, Aunt Alice’s giggles exploded into loud guffaws. Rose tried to laugh, too, but the memory of crashing through the bush and landing in the water was still a little too sharp.

  Aunt Alice hugged Rose and said, ‘Come on, tell me what happened.’

  It didn’t take long to explain about the disastrous bicycle trip, and how John was fixing the bicycle to be as good as new.

  ‘That’s good to hear,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘And I believe your father has suggested a school.’

  Rose bit her lip. ‘I think Mother is going to say no. She wants this Miss Higginbottom so badly that she won’t listen to Father or anyone.’

  ‘Your father knows you, and you’ve made it clear how you feel,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘I’m sure it will work out. Now, come with me. I have something to show you.’

  Aunt Alice tucked Rose’s hand in hers and led her past the stable towards the orchard. Are we going to play cricket? Rose wondered. But soon she heard voices and recognised one as Edward‘s.

  Past the apple trees, Rose stopped in astonishment. There was Edward, stripped down to his undershirt and knickerbockers, in bare feet on the grass. John was showing him how to hold his fists, and adjusting his fingers and stance.

  ‘Now, try a few left and right jabs, so I can see which is your stronger arm.’ Edward did as he was told – to Rose’s eyes the movements looked awkward and jerky. Edward would surely have to improve a lot if he was to defend himself against a pack of bullies. Was this such a good idea? What if it made things worse?

  ‘You’ve got a good left hook there,’ John said.

  ‘Have I really?’ Edward smiled and jabbed again.

  ‘Hold on. I’ll stand in front of you with me hands up, and you aim for them.’ After a few minutes of this, John started Edward on moving his feet at the same time. He looked like he was dancing, but his face was alight with concentration as he followed every instruction John gave him. Sweat trickled down his face and neck.

  Rose beamed. ‘Aunt Alice, my idea worked!’

  ‘It certainly did.’ Aunt Alice watched for a minute or two. ‘But Edward has a way to go yet.’

  Now John was starting to throw some punches of his own, making them light enough not to hurt, but Edward couldn’t grasp how to block them, and was being hit over and over. Rose cringed as one punch caught him on the ribs and he gasped, but to his credit he didn’t complain or give up, he just kept trying.

  Rose’s stomach rumbled. ‘I’ve seen enough. It must be afternoon tea time.’

  ‘It is. Now, don’t mention this to your father. I think that should be Edward’s job, when he’s ready.’

  ‘That’s if he survives. I do hope he gets the hang of it.’ Just as Rose turned to leave, Edward caught her eye and grinned, which made Rose glow inside.

  ‘Are you sick, Rose?’ Martha asked at dinner that night.

  ‘I’m not very hungry,’ Rose said.

  ‘So you won’t need any plum pie,’ Mother said.

  ‘No, thank you,’ Rose said, which made everyone at the table stare in surprise. Rose refuse dessert? Unheard of!

  ‘Are your headaches better, Martha?’ Mother asked.

  ‘Yes – now I’ve stopped wearing those enormous hats and hatpins,’ Martha said.

  ‘The size of ladies’ hats is getting ridiculous – and all those fruits and feathers they put on them, too,’ said Father. He sipped some wine and said, ‘So Alice, are you going to Adelaide?’

  ‘I’m still thinking about it.’

  Mother pursed her mouth but said nothing.

  ‘Rose is in dire need of a governess,’ Father said.

  ‘Oh,’ Aunt Alice said. ‘I thought you had engaged a Miss Higginbottom.’

  Mother stiffened in her chair. ‘She has been lured away from us with what I can only call a bribe!’

  Lured away? No Miss Higginbottom? Rose sat up.

  Martha leaned across the table, her face glowing. ‘You have lots of experience, Aunt Alice. Why don’t you become Rose’s governess?’

  Rose wanted to rush around the table and kiss Martha.

  Mother’s spoon rattled against her dessert plate. ‘We also discussed the option of a school, Daniel. Have you forgotten?’

  ‘Oh, yes, we did,’ Father said. ‘I thought you weren’t in favour of that.’

  ‘I never said any such thing,’ Mother said. ‘I merely wished to inspect the school first and approve it.’

  Aunt Alice focused on cutting off a piece of her pie. ‘I hear Mrs Pearson’s Ladies’ College is quite good.’

  ‘We have chosen St Swithin’s in Kew, actually,’ Mother said in her haughtiest tone, dismissing Aunt Alice’s suggestion.

  Aunt Alice didn’t seem at all insulted. She nodded and ate her pie. Rose almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and bent her head to hide her glee.

  Father said, ‘I’ll organise an appointment with the principal. Rose may be able to start next week.’

  Out of habit, Sally had put a dessert plate of plum pie and cream i
n front of Rose. A few minutes ago, Rose had pushed it away, but now she pulled the plate back. The pie was delicious, the pastry sprinkled with sugar, and she was suddenly hungry enough to ask for her cold uneaten dinner to be brought back.

  School! Holy smoke, she was going to be allowed to go to school! It was such an amazing turn of events that she couldn’t quite believe it.

  But on Saturday morning, she saw it with her own eyes. Father called Rose to come for a drive in the buggy, taking the reins himself. Chester trotted through Hawthorn as if he knew exactly where he was going, even if Rose didnt. Until they reached a high brick wall and a pair of black iron gates with a nameplate etched in gold …

  ‘St Swithin’s! It’s real. It’s a real school!’

  As soon as Father stopped the buggy, Rose leapt down and ran to the gates, peering through at the stone building with tall windows and a huge garden. And – was that a lawn big enough for playing cricket?

  Already she could imagine herself inside in a big airy classroom with other girls, learning all about fossils and plants and animals. Only Father’s hands on her shoulders stopped her from jumping up and down with excitement.

  ‘How does that look, Rosie?’ he asked.

  Rose looked up at him, smiling. ‘It looks to me like the most magical place in the whole of Melbourne!’

  I was born and grew up in New Zealand, on a dairy farm, and travelled all the way around the world before I eventually came to Australia. My oldest sister, Karen, was a world traveller and I wanted to be just like her.

  I arrived in Australia in 1978. I was only planning to stay for three months but I’m still here, and now I am a citizen.

  At school, I learned a lot about European history but nothing about Australia. I had no idea how the government worked, or that the states were independent until Federation. And what was Federation anyway?

  Writing Rose’s story meant a huge amount of research, which I love, and I suspect I now know more about early Melbourne and Federation than most Aussies!

  I was born and grew up in Italy, a beautiful country to visit, but also a difficult country to live in for new generations.

  In 2006, I packed up my suitcase and I left Italy with the man I love. We bet on Australia. I didn’t know much about Australia before coming - I was just looking for new opportunities, I guess.

  And I liked it right from the beginning! Australian people are resourceful, open-minded and always with a smile on their faces. I think all Australians keep in their blood a bit of the pioneer heritage, regardless of their own birthplace.

  Here I began a new life and now I’m doing what I always dreamed of: I illustrate stories. Here is the place where I’d like to live and to grow up my children, in a country that doesn’t fear the future.

  IN 1900, getting around was a lot more difficult than it is today. However, some exciting new changes around this time made a big difference in people’s lives.

  Bicycles became very popular in the 1890s after the invention of a model that ran its chain off the rear wheel instead of the front wheel. It was called the safety bicycle, and led to women wearing bloomers and pantaloons so they could ride without having to worry about getting their skirts caught. Suffragettes saw the bicycle as a cheap means of giving freedom to women. In 1895, Annie Londonderry was the first woman to bicycle around the world.

  Up until the 1900s, most people used horses for transport. Horses pulled carts, buggies, wagons and carriages. In Melbourne, they also pulled trams. As well, Melbourne had cable trams.The cables were underground, powered by big machines that kept them rolling like long conveyor belts. A tram driver would use a gripping handle and hook to grab onto the cable through a gap in the road.

  In the late 1890s, a few cars began to be imported from overseas and appear on the roads. The first petrol-driven car made in Australia was a Tarrant, invented by Harry A. Tarrant in his small workshop in Melbourne.

  Every state in Australia also had its own railway system. The problem was all the rails were different widths! If you wanted to travel by rail from Melbourne to Sydney, you had to get off at the border and switch trains. It wasn’t until 1983 that every state finally had the same gauge railway lines.

  Freedom and Bicycles

  Safety bicycles were an exciting invention that allowed women to be independent and travel wherever they wanted.

  SOME BOOKS ROSE MIGHT HAVE LIKED TO READ …

  Not all these books would have been around at the time of Rose’s story, but we think she would have really enjoyed reading them. Maybe you would, too! Look out for them at your local bookshop or library.

  Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

  * * *

  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

  * * *

  Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

  * * *

  Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner

  * * *

  Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

  * * *

  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

  * * *

  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

  * * *

  The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

  * * *

  The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

  * * *

  The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

  * * *

  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

  * * *

  Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

  * * *

  ROSE gazed up at the tall iron gates, and then down the driveway to the big two-storey stone building that was St Swithin’s School for Young Ladies. She couldn’t believe she was actually here, about to start her first day at school!

  John urged the horse forward and the buggy rattled towards the school, pulling up in front of the tiled steps. Rose jumped straight out. ‘Thank you, John. Will you be back at three o’clock?’

  ‘Yes, either me or Tommy.’ John smiled. ‘Good luck, Miss.’ He clucked at the horse and drove away, not wanting to hold up the two carriages that were coming in behind him.

  Rose made sure her new straw hat was on straight, took a deep breath and climbed the steps. The hallway was full of girls in white blouses and long skirts who chattered like galahs and giggled together. Rose’s breath caught – so many girls, just like her!

  Martha and Edward had both told her that school was boring, but she refused to believe them. How much more interesting to be here rather than sitting at home with a governess, learning French verbs and wrestling with embroidery!

  In all her excitement, though, Rose hadn’t thought about what it would be like to suddenly be surrounded by several dozen strange girls, many of whom were staring at her curiously. She was starting school so late in the year, and surely they would all have made friends with each other already? Suddenly she felt all alone and very small as the girls swept past her so confidently, and she took a hesitant step back towards the front door.

  ‘Come along, girls,’ a woman called. ‘The bell is about to ring.’

  Within a minute, the hallway had emptied, leaving Rose wondering what she should do next. One of the women poked her head out of the room on the left and said, ‘Are you the new girl? You had better take your hat off and join us in here.’

  Rose did as she was told, stopping short inside the doorway when fifteen pairs of eyes focused on her, all fifteen faces bright with curiosity. She shrank back against the wall. What if they thought she was stupid? What if she said the wrong thing, or no one nobody liked her or …

  The teacher, whose small, round spectacles were perched right on the end of her nose, smiled at her. ‘Don’t be nervous. You must be Rose McCubbin.’

  Rose nodded, not sure her voice would obey her.

  ‘Then you’re in the right class, my dear. I’m Miss Capstan, your teacher. You’re one of our youngest pupils, so I shall seat you next to … Abigail. Abigail?’

  A girl at a desk near the window stood q
uickly. ‘Yes, Miss Capstan.’

  ‘You’ll look after Rose, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Miss Capstan.’ Abigail smiled, giving Rose the courage to thread her way betweens the desks to the spare seat. Abigail’s blonde hair was pulled back into a tidy knot and her blue eyes sparkled.

  I hope she’s as nice as she looks, Rose thought.

  Meet the other Australian girls and authors

  A FRIEND FOR GRACE 1808

  It’s 1808 and Grace is on board the ship Indispensable with her friend Hannah. The girls wonder what the new land will be like - the convict women say there are giant rats and other strange animals! Then sickness strikes the ship … Will they survive to reach the shores of New South Wales?

  Follow Grace on her adventure in the second of four exciting stories about a convict girl who is given another chance.

  Sofie Laguna, author of the Grace books, is a highly regarded and award-winning writer of several books for children. Bird and Sugar Boy was shortlisted for the 2007 CBC Book of the Year Award, Younger Readers, and Sofie’s adult book, One Foot Wrong, was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2009.

  LETTY AND THE STRANGER’S LACE 1841

  It’s 1841 and Letty and her sister Lavinia have arrived in Sydney town. It’s a dangerous place for two girls on their own. When Lavinia gets a job, poor Letty is left feeling useless and alone. Then she meets Mary, a strange woman with a secret …